Background 

Anabaptists originated in sixteenth-century Europe. They believed in voluntary, adult baptism, nonviolence, love of enemy, and discipleship. Today the term may include Amish, Mennonites, and related groups. 

Anabaptists in Lancaster County

Many different Anabaptists make their home in Lancaster County, Pa. They represent the spectrum from modern to conservative. Some groups are concentrated here but have larger constituencies in surrounding counties and states.

Lancaster County is home to nearly thirty different Anabaptist groups in 412 congregations, totalling more than 52,000 members.
(Detailed Lancaster County and Pennsylvania data available in pdf format to the right).

Anabaptists in the United States

Nationwide, there are 33 different Mennonite church groups in 2,404 congregations, totalling 252,638 members.
(Detailed nationwide data available in pdf format to the right of this article).

 

Further Study

The following books on Anabaptist Mennonites are available in our library and/or bookstore:

Anabaptist (Mennonite) Directory (Annual, Sword & Trumpet Publishers)

Horse-and-Buggy Mennonites: Hoofbeats of Humility in a Postmodern World by Donald Kraybill and James Hurd (Penn State University Press)

Road Signs for the Journey: A Profile of Mennonite Church USA by Conrad Kanagy (Herald Press)

Click here to check the availability of these titles and more in our bookstore, or call the bookstore at 717-393-9745.

 

Source

Data is compiled by C. Nelson Hostetter from published sources and ethnographic interviews and posted here with his permission.  Nelson is co-author of the book, Anabaptist World USA (Herald Press, 2001); he and his wife, Esther, are members of Akron (PA) Mennonite Church.